Italian Ambassador to Bosnia and Herzegovina Sarah Eti Castellani read a speech by Italian President Sergio Mattarella in Potočari on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the Srebrenica genocide.
In the speech delivered by the ambassador, the Italian President said that the events in Srebrenica have also affected the international community.
“The sad lesson encourages a common duty to prevent and fight such crimes and to firmly condemn any form of revisionism. It would be wrong to attribute the burden of shame to entire nations. What is needed is to insist on rigorous justice, which will lay the foundations for reconciliation. It is in this spirit that, on 23 May 2024, the UN General Assembly declared 11 July as the International Day of Remembrance of the Srebrenica Genocide, in order to preserve the memory of the tragic events,” said the Italian President.
He also said that Bosnia and Herzegovina will always have Italy’s support.
“The European perspective to which the peoples of the Balkans aspire symbolizes the values of democracy and equal rights as the backbone of the peaceful coexistence of all peoples. These principles inspired the founders of the European project and are relevant so that tragedies like the Srebrenica genocide will never be repeated. May the sad period of nationalism, the harbinger of the greatest tragedies, remain in history forever. On this path, Sarajevo knows that it can count on the full support of Italy and on the feeling of great friendship that binds our peoples,” said the ambassador, conveying the message of the Italian president.
